New Gorillaz Track “Stylo” Ft. Most Def, Bobby Womack

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The Gorillaz are back, and in a big way.  Yesterday it was announced that the fictional foursome would be headlining Coachella, big news for imaginary bands everywhere and imaginary bands nowhere, and then today “Stylo”, the first single from the Gorillaz’ upcoming album Plastic Beach, surfaced on the Internet.

“Stylo,” features everybody’s favorite and the worlds most harmless rapper, Mos Def, laying down a sedated and effects-heavy flow over the last thirty seconds, as well as American R&B staple, Bobby Womack, who continues to be remembered not for writing “It’s All Over Now,” or “Across 110th Street,” but instead for marrying Sam Cooke’s widow just 3 months after the King of Soul was murdered.

Damon Albarn has been quoting saying that Plastic Beach is “the most pop record I ever made,” and it definitely shows on “Stylo”.  Overall the track sounds like an dingy alley in the 1980s.  Womack’s sudden burst of guts and soul about a minute and a half into the ghostly 8-bit groove are surprisingly enjoyable, and not in a corny or nostalgic way.  The music is self-aware, but sincere; even Mos Def doesn’t sound like a clown on this track.   Once again Hewitt and Albarn introduce the public to a new auditory cool.

Plastic Beach will be released on March 9th and will feature a legendary cast of contributors like, Lou Reed, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals, and even Snoop Dogg.   To get a better idea about the album here’s a quote from a Gorillaz press release, explaining the premise of Plastic Beach.

“The band have taken up residence, recording on a secret floating island deep in the South Pacific, a Plastic Beach HQ, made up of the detritus, debris and washed up remnants of humanity. This Plastic Beach is the furthest point from any landmass on Earth; the most deserted spot on the planet.”

Mp3:  Gorillaz – Stylo (ft. Bobby Womack and Mos Def)